in definition | Dictionary.com

in

[in]

preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, verb, inned, in⋅ning.

–preposition

1.	(used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits): walking in the park.

2.	(used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial): in politics; in the autumn.

3.	(used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time): in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.

4.	(used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.): to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.

5.	(used to indicate means): sketched in ink; spoken in French.

6.	(used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into: Let's go in the house.

7.	(used to indicate transition from one state to another): to break in half.

8.	(used to indicate object or purpose): speaking in honor of the event.

–adverb

9.	in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc.: Please come in.

10.	on the inside; within.

11.	in one's house or office.

12.	in office or power.

13.	in possession or occupancy.

14.	having the turn to play, as in a game.

15.	Baseball. (of an infielder or outfielder) in a position closer to home plate than usual; short: The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt.

16.	on good terms; in favor: He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last.

17.	in vogue; in style: He says straw hats will be in this year.

18.	in season: Watermelons will soon be in.

–adjective

19.	located or situated within; inner; internal: the in part of a mechanism.

20.

Informal.

a.	in favor with advanced or sophisticated people; fashionable; stylish: the in place to dine; Her new novel is the in book to read this summer.

b.	comprehensible only to a special or ultrasophisticated group: an in joke.

21.	well-liked; included in a favored group.

22.	inward; incoming; inbound: an in train.

23.	plentiful; available.

24.	being in power, authority, control, etc.: a member of the in party.

25.	playing the last nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course (opposed to out ): His in score on the second round was 34.

–noun

26.	Usually, ins. persons in office or political power (distinguished from outs ).

27.	a member of the political party in power: The election made him an in.

28.	pull or influence; a social advantage or connection: He's got an in with the senator.

29.	(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) a return or service that lands within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court (opposed to out ).

–verb (used with object) British Dialect.

30.	to enclose.

—Idioms

31.	be in for, to be bound to undergo something, esp. a disagreeable experience: We are in for a long speech.

32.	in for it, Slang. about to suffer chastisement or unpleasant consequences, esp. of one's own actions or omissions: I forgot our anniversary again, and I'll be in for it now. Also, British, for it.

33.	in that, because; inasmuch as: In that you won't have time for supper, let me give you something now.

34.	in with, on friendly terms with; familiar or associating with: They are in with all the important people.

Origin:
bef. 900; 1925–30 for def. 28; ME, OE; c. G, D, OFris, OS, Goth in, ON ī, L in, Gk en, Lith į

IN

Indiana (approved esp. for use with zip code).

In

Symbol, Chemistry.

indium.

in-

a prefix representing English in (income; indwelling; inland, etc.), but used also as a verb-formative with transitive, intensive, or sometimes little apparent force (intrust; inweave, etc.). It often assumes the same forms as in- ² , such as en-, em-, im- ³ .

Origin:
ME, OE; see in

in-

a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in- ¹ (incarcerate; incantation).

Also, il-, im-, ir-.

Compare em-, en-.

Origin:
< L, comb. form of in (prep.); c. in

in-

a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, esp. of adjectives and their derivatives and of nouns (inattention; indefensible; inexpensive; inorganic; invariable). It assumes the same phonetic phases as in- ² (impartial; immeasurable; illiterate; irregular, etc.). In French, it became en- and thus occurs unfelt in such words as enemy (French ennemi, Latin inimicus, lit., not friendly).

Also, il-, im-, ir-.

Origin:
< L; akin to an- ¹ , a- ⁶ , un- ¹

Synonyms:
The prefixes in- and un- may both have, among other uses, a negative force. In- is the form derived from Latin, and is therefore used in learned words or in words derived from Latin or (rarely) Greek: inaccessible, inaccuracy, inadequate, etc. Un- is the native form going back to Old English, used in words of native origin, and sometimes used in combination with words of other origins if these words are in common use: unloving, ungodly, unfeeling, unnecessary, unsafe.

-in

a suffix, occurring in adjectives of Greek and Latin origin, meaning “pertaining to,” and (in nouns thence derived) also imitated in English (coffin; cousin, etc.).

Origin:
ME -in, -ine < OF < L -inus, -ina, -inum < Gk -inos, -inē, -inon

-in

a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature (glycerin; acetin, etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances having the termination -ine rather than -in (aconitine; aniline, etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids (albumin; palmitin, etc.), but this distinction is not always observed.

Origin:
< NL -ina. See -ine ²

-in

a suffixal use of the adverb in, extracted from sit-in, forming compound nouns, usually from verbs, referring to organized protests through or in support of the named activity (kneel-in; chain-in; be-in) or, more generally, to any organized social or cultural activity (cook-in; sing-in).

in.

inch; inches.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To in

in¹ (ĭn)

prep.

1. Within the limits, bounds, or area of: was hit in the face; born in the spring; a chair in the garden.
2. From the outside to a point within; into: threw the letter in the wastebasket.
3. Having the activity, occupation, or function of: a life in politics; the officer in command.
4. During the act or process of: tripped in racing for the bus.
5. With the arrangement or order of: fabric that fell in luxuriant folds; arranged to purchase the car in equal payments.
6. After the style or form of: a poem in iambic pentameter.
7. By means of: paid in cash.
8. Made with or through the medium of: a statue in bronze; a note written in German.
To or at a situation or condition of: was split in two; in debt; a woman in love.
1. Having the activity, occupation, or function of: a life in politics; the officer in command.
2. During the act or process of: tripped in racing for the bus.
3. With the arrangement or order of: fabric that fell in luxuriant folds; arranged to purchase the car in equal payments.
4. After the style or form of: a poem in iambic pentameter.
5. By means of: paid in cash.
6. Made with or through the medium of: a statue in bronze; a note written in German.
1. With the arrangement or order of: fabric that fell in luxuriant folds; arranged to purchase the car in equal payments.
2. After the style or form of: a poem in iambic pentameter.
3. By means of: paid in cash.
4. Made with or through the medium of: a statue in bronze; a note written in German.
With the characteristic, attribute, or property of: a tall man in an overcoat.
1. By means of: paid in cash.
2. Made with or through the medium of: a statue in bronze; a note written in German.
With the aim or purpose of: followed in pursuit.
With reference to: six inches in depth; has faith in your judgment.
Used to indicate the second and larger term of a ratio or proportion: saved only one in ten.

adv.

To or toward the inside: opened the door and stepped in.
To or toward a destination or goal: The mob closed in.
Sports So as to score, as by crossing home plate in baseball: singled the runner in.
Within a place, as of business or residence: The manager is in before anyone else.
So as to be available or under one's control: We can proceed when all the evidence is in.
So as to include or incorporate: Fold in the egg whites.
So as to occupy a position of success or favor: campaigned hard and was voted in.
In a particular relationship: got in bad with their supervisor.

adj.

Located inside; inner.
Incoming; inward: took the in bus.
Holding office; having power: the in party.
Informal
1. Currently fashionable: the in thing to wear this season.
2. Concerned with or attuned to the latest fashions: the in crowd. See Synonyms at fashionable.
Relating to, understandable to, or coming from an exclusive group: an in reference.

One that has position, influence, or power: the ins against the outs.
Informal Influence; power: had an in with the authorities.

[Middle English, from Old English; see en in Indo-European roots.]

in² or in.
abbr. inch

In
The symbol for the element indium.

IN
abbr. Indiana

inch¹ (ĭnch)

n. Abbr. in or in.

A unit of length in the U.S. Customary and British Imperial systems, equal to ¹/₁₂ of a foot (2.54 centimeters). See Table at measurement.
A fall, as of rain or snow, sufficient to cover a surface to the depth of one inch.
A unit of atmospheric pressure that is equal to the pressure exerted by a one-inch column of mercury at the earth's surface at a temperature of 0°C.
A very small degree or amount: won't budge an inch.

intr. & tr.v. inched, inch·ing, inch·es
To move or cause to move slowly or by small degrees: inching along through stalled traffic; inched the chair forward.

[Middle English, from Old English ynce, from Latin ūncia, one twelfth of a unit; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.]

In·di·an·a (ĭn'dē-ān'ə)

A state of the north-central United States. It was admitted as the 19th state in 1816. The area was controlled by France until 1763 and by Great Britain until 1783. The Indiana Territory was formed in 1800. Indianapolis is the capital and the largest city. Population: 6,350,000.
In'di·an'an, In'di·an'i·an adj. & n.

in·di·um (ĭn'dē-əm)

n. Symbol In
A soft, malleable, silvery-white metallic element found primarily in ores of zinc and tin, used as a plating over silver in making mirrors, in plating aircraft bearings, and in compounds for making transistors. Atomic number 49; atomic weight 114.82; melting point 156.61°C; boiling point 2,080°C; specific gravity 7.31; valence 1, 2, 3. See Table at element.

[ind(igo) + -ium (so called from the indigo-blue lines in its spectrum).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

In\, prep. [AS. in; akin to D. & G. in, Icel. [=i], Sw. & Dan. i, OIr. & L. in, Gr. 'en. [root]197. Cf. 1st In-, Inn.] The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among. It is used:

1. With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.

The babe lying in a manger. --Luke ii. 16.

Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west. --Shak.

Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude. --Gibbon.

Matter for censure in every page. --Macaulay.

2. With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light. "Fettered in amorous chains." --Shak.

Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils. --Shelley.

3. With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army.

Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry. --Swift.

4. With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear.

When shall we three meet again, In thunder, lightning, or in rain? --Shak.

5. With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor. "In sight of God's high throne." --Milton.

Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh. --Cowper.

6. With reference to movement or tendency toward a certain limit or environment; -- sometimes equivalent to into; as, to put seed in the ground; to fall in love; to end in death; to put our trust in God.

He would not plunge his brother in despair. --Addison.

She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets. --Fielding.

7. With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.

In as much as, or Inasmuch as, in the degree that; in like manner as; in consideration that; because that; since. See Synonym of Because, and cf. For as much as, under For, prep.

In that, because; for the reason that. "Some things they do in that they are men . . .; some things in that they are men misled and blinded with error." --Hooker.

In the name of, in behalf of; on the part of; by authority; as, it was done in the name of the people; -- often used in invocation, swearing, praying, and the like.

To be in for it. (a) To be in favor of a thing; to be committed to a course. (b) To be unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc. [Colloq.]

To be (or keep) in with. (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; to secure and retain the favor of. [Colloq.]

Syn: Into; within; on; at. See At.

In\, adv. 1. Not out; within; inside. In, the preposition, becomes an adverb by omission of its object, leaving it as the representative of an adverbial phrase, the context indicating what the omitted object is; as, he takes in the situation (i. e., he comprehends it in his mind); the Republicans were in (i. e., in office); in at one ear and out at the other (i. e., in or into the head); his side was in (i. e., in the turn at the bat); he came in (i. e., into the house).

Their vacation . . . falls in so pat with ours. --Lamb.

Note: The sails of a vessel are said, in nautical language, to be in when they are furled, or when stowed. In certain cases in has an adjectival sense; as, the in train (i. e., the incoming train); compare up grade, down grade, undertow, afterthought, etc.

2. (Law) With privilege or possession; -- used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband. --Burrill.

In and in breeding. See under Breeding.

In and out (Naut.), through and through; -- said of a through bolt in a ship's side. --Knight.

To be in, to be at home; as, Mrs. A. is in.

To come in. See under Come.

In\, n.

Note: [Usually in the plural.]

1. One who is in office; -- the opposite of out.

2. A re["e]ntrant angle; a nook or corner.

Ins and outs, nooks and corners; twists and turns.

All the ins and outs of this neighborhood. --D. Jerrold.

In\, v. t. To inclose; to take in; to harvest. [Obs.]

He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop. --Shak.

Language Translation for : in

Spanish: en,

German: in,

Japanese: ～の中に

More Translations »

O.E. in "in," inne "within," from P.Gmc. *in (cf. O.Fris, Du., Ger., Goth. in, O.N. i), from PIE *en-/*n (cf. Gk. en, L. in, O.Ir. in, Welsh yn-, O.C.S. on-). Sense of "holding power" (the in party) first recorded 1605; that of "exclusive" (the in-crowd, an in-joke) is from 1907; that of "stylish, fashionable" (the in thing) is from 1960. The noun sense of "influence, access" (have an in with) first recorded 1929 in Amer.Eng. The suffix -in attached to a verb originated 1960 with sit-in, probably infl. by sit-down strike, used first of protests, extended c.1965 to any gathering. In-and-out "copulation" is attested from 1620. To be in like Flynn is 1940s slang, said to be U.S. military, perhaps from alleged sexual exploits of Hollywood actor Errol Flynn.

Main Entry: in
Function: preposition
: under the law of : based on in negligence —National Law Journal>

Main Entry: in
Function: abbreviation
inch

Main Entry: In
Function: symbol
indium

In
The symbol for the element indium.

In
The symbol for indium.

indium (ĭn'dē-əm) Pronunciation Key
Symbol In
A soft, malleable, silvery-white metallic element that occurs mainly in ores of zinc and lead. It is used in the manufacture of semiconductors, in bearings for aircraft engines, and as a plating over silver in mirrors. Atomic number 49; atomic weight 114.82; melting point 156.61°C; boiling point 2,080°C; specific gravity 7.31; valence 1, 2, 3. See Periodic Table.

in networking
The country code for India.
(1999-01-27)

In addition to the idioms beginning with in, also see under out of.

in
inch

In
indium

IN
Indiana

Search another word or see in on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us